Machado Garry took the battle towards Rakhmonov on brief discover final month, changing Muhammad when the champion withdrew with injury.
Moderately than make the bout with Rakhmonov an interim title battle, the UFC made it a primary contender bout with Machado Garry including “everything was on the line”.
The Irishman has risen shortly via the UFC ranks since his debut in 2021, successful eight fights however in Rakhmonov was going through a person described because the UFC’s ‘Boogeyman’.
The Kazakh fighter had stopped all 18 of his earlier opponents – till Machado Garry.
The pair confirmed respect to one another throughout battle week having educated collectively prior to now, and Machado Garry greeted Rakhmonov with a fist-bump as he entered the octagon.
The primary two rounds noticed little vital motion with the pair battling for place within the clinch towards the cage and Rakhmonov touchdown a few eye-catching proper palms.
Machado Garry began to search out success within the third as he opened up with an array of kicks, earlier than having to vary his shorts on the finish of the spherical after sporting a big rip down the again.
Rakhmovov took management within the fourth spherical as he landed the primary takedowns of the battle earlier than delivering some huge blows on the bottom.
With Machado Garry understanding he doubtless wanted a end to safe the win, his greatest second got here within the ultimate spherical.
After taking Rakhmonov’s again, Machado Garry battled for a rear-naked choke on the bottom as the group roared the Irishman on, however the Kazakh defended nicely earlier than navigating safely to the tip of the competition.
The pair confirmed additional respect, kneeling in entrance of each other and sharing some phrases after the bout, earlier than elevating one another’s arms within the air.
